Thomson Celebration to be based in Dubai

For the first time next year Thomson Cruises will homeport one of its cruise ships in Dubai. From December 2016 the 1,254-guest Thomson Celebration will sail on two 7-night itineraries. Cruises go on sale this November.

The line will offer flights to Dubai from six UK regional airports, including Birmingham, Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle and London Gatwick.

The itineraries - ‘Cities of Gold' and ‘Arabian Nights' will stop in Dubai overnight and visit 6 new destinations: Abu Dhabi and Khor Fakkan (UAE), Khasab and Muscat (Oman), Manama (Bahrain) and Doha (Qatar). There will be an option to add a week-long stay in Dubai in one of the luxury hotels offered (including Atlantis the Palm).

Thomson Cruises Managing Director Helen Caron said they knew that destinations were one of the key deciding factors for their customers and the decision to set sail from Dubai would allow vacationers to experience "more destinations than ever before". As Dubai became more and more popular for incredible excursions and winter sun, Thomson customers would be as excited to welcome the destination.